Love is in the air at some of your favorite area eateries – see what Boston’s
top chefs will be whipping up on Valentine’s Day and make your reservations
soon since things do tend to fill up.
33 Restaurant & Lounge
Spend
Valentine’s Day 2005 at 33
Restaurant & Lounge where chef Anthony
Dawodu will be rolling out the culinary red carpet with a four course, prix
fixe menu. Make reservations an indulge in dishes like jumbo scallops, toasted
pine nuts, smoked bacon, lentils and a truffle-herb bouillon; mesclun greens
with locally picked herbs, crisp radish coins, drizzled with an herb vinaigrette;
roast venison chop with butter cabbage, sweet potato butter puree, natural jus
and a chestnut ginger ice cream; and banana tarte tatin lightly topped with
caramel served with ginger ice cream. The Valentine’s Day festivities cost $79
per person just for dinner, $89 per person with a champagne toast and $99 per
person with a bottle of champagne. Call 33 at 617.572.3311 for reservations
and more information.
Anthem
Celebrate
Valentine’s Day all weekend long at Anthem
a specially designed menu from chef Robert
Fathman. The a la carte holiday menu, which will be available from Friday,
February 11th through Monday, February 14th, features a number of dishes meant
for sharing with your beloved. Drop in for lollipop lamb chops with raspberry
grain mustard and frisee salad; stuffed fried quail with foie gras, bourbon
glaze, jicama apple slaw; and chocolate covered strawberries with stinky cheese.
Wash it all down with Anthem’s Sure Thing martini, which blends Van Gogh Dutch
Chocolate vodka, vanilla liqueur, dark Godiva liqueur and chocolate chip liqueur.
Call 617.523.8383 for more information and to make reservations.
Ariadne Restaurant & Bar
Chef
Tsardounis and wine director Kathleen Malloy welcome guests to Ariadne
Restaurant & Bar for a Valentine’s Day spread that includes a Wellfleet
oyster with a ginger lime mignonette; beet and haricots verts salad with blue
cheese fondue, candied walnuts and Roxbury russet apples; seared sea scallops
with chestnuts, cranberries and roasted butternut squash veloute; and Meyer
lemon cheesecake with a walnut crust. The four-course prix fixe menu costs $75
per person. Call 617.332.4653 to make reservations.
Aujourd’hui
Put
your Valentine’s Day celebration in the hands of the talented chefs of Four
Seasons Boston. Executive chef David
Blessing, chef de cuisine Jérôme
Legras and pastry chef Tim
Fonseca will be whipping up a special, four-course, prix fixe menu to be
enjoyed in one of the city’s most romantic dining rooms. The dinner costs $130
per person including tax and gratuity. Call Aujourd’hui
at 617.351.2037 for reservations.
Avenue One
Avenue One extends their Valentine’s Day celebration over the whole weekend. Drop
in Saturday, Sunday or Monday, February 12th through the 14th for four coursed
from chef Brad
Ozerdem. His menu features choices like New England cheese fondue for two;
grilled swordfish with warm beet vinaigrette and thyme scented corn-wheat berry
pilaf; and Avenue One’s renowned Toblerone chocolate fondue with marshmallow
pillows, crimson strawberries and amaretto biscotti. Dinner costs $140 per couple
not including tax and gratuity. Call Avenue One at 617.422.5579 to make reservations.
Azure
Chef
Fathman invites guests to get romantic at Azure
this Valentine’s Day with sexy, specially concocted cocktails and a festive
holiday menu that he’ll be offering all weekend long. Make reservations for
Fathman’s three-course prix fixe menu and choose among dishes like tempura lobster
and taro with yucca, seaweed salad, kumquat-ginger shimi shimi sauce; braised
veal cheeks and sautéed shrimp with baby winter vegetables, creamy parsnip puree
and lobster butter; and milk chocolate, chai truffle and cardamom cream with
hot fudge sauce. The dinner, which will be available from Saturday, February
12th through Monday, February 14th, costs $60 per person. Call Azure at 617.933.4800
for reservations.
blu
Bring
your sweetie to blu
at The Sports Club LA this Valentine’s Day weekend where chef Tom
Fosnot will be preparing succulent holiday specials like beef carpaccio
with arugula, pickled red onions, parmigiano-reggiano, and a black olive vinaigrette;
poached lobster, served with a salt cod cake, baby carrots, spinach and chervil
butter. End the evening with chocolate crème brulée with bourbon-cherry
compote, chocolate sorbet, and chocolate cherry sauce created by pastry chef
Michelle Vernier. The Valentine’s specials will be offered, in addition to Fosnot’s
new dinner menu, on Saturday, February 12th and Monday, February. 14th. Call
blu at 617-375-8550 for reservations.
The Blue Room
Never
having cared much for the prix fixe menu, the folks at The
Blue Room are keeping things simple this Valentine’s Day. Chef Jorge
Lopes will be adding some festive specials to the menu for the holiday –
pan-fried oysters with osetra caviar and wilted spinach; baked goat cheese with
roasted beets and toasted walnuts; New Zealand lamb rack grilled with roasted
artichokes, mixed olives and smoked plum tomatoes; and braised rabbit leg with
roast loin on spaetzel with chestnuts and oyster mushrooms. Call The Blue Room
at 617.494.9034 to make reservations or request more information.
Café
Fleuri
Delight your loved one with a an evening of chef John
Lambiase‘s fine cuisine at Café
Fleuri‘s Valentine’s Dinner Dance. The evening include a three-course meal,
a glass of sparkling wine and dancing, capped off by the Langham Hotel’s signature
Chocolate Bar Buffet. The evening costs $65 per person not including tax and
gratuity. Call Café Fleuri at 617.956.8751 for reservations.
Caffe
Umbra
Celebrate Valentines Day at Caffe
Umbra with a some special menu items from chef Laura
Brennan that’ll be available all weekend. Look for specials like oysters
two ways; housemade gnocchi with foie gras butter and armagnac prunes; lamb
noisette with parsnips and bitter chocolate; and chocolate dessert tasting for
two. Call Caffe Umbra at 617.867.0707 to make reservations.
Finale
Indulge
your sweet tooth and your sweetie this Valentine’s Day at Finale
with the annual debut of Nicole
Coady‘s Chocolate Plate for Two. The 2005 version includes a black forest
napoleon with Morello cherry sauce; white chocolate strawberry dome with strawberry
liquid center and balsamic reduction; molten chocolate cake with butterscotch
sauce; milk chocolate Florentine with banana gelato; and four chocolate candies
– dark chocolate chew, praline truffle, espresso truffle and nougat with orange
rind, pistachios and macadamia nuts. They’ll also be serving a special dinner
menu. Call either location for reservations, Harvard Square at 617.441.9797
or Park Square at 617.423.3184.
Grotto
In honor of Saint Valentine’s Day, chef Scott
Herritt will be offering three and a four course dining options at Grotto.
Each course will have four options to choose from and will feature both specially
designed holiday dishes as well as some of Grotto’s signature dishes. The menus
will feature Italian wedding soup, house prepared pastas, signature salads,
lamb, fresh fish, and beef tenderloin. Tables are already filling up, so call
617.227.3434 to make reservations.
Hamersley’s Bistro
Celebrate
Valentine’s Day with Boston’s most beloved culinary couple. Gordon and Fiona
Hamersley welcome guests to join them at Hamersley’s
Bistro for a spectacular Valentine’s Day menu. On Monday, February 14, starting
at 5:30pm, Gordon
Hamersley will be offering a $95 four-course prix fixe menu of delights
like warm pan-roasted lobster with endive and saffron salad; cream of chestnut
and apple soup with foie gras crostini; and grilled elk with anna potatoes,
red onions and black pepper infused zinfandel sauce. Save room for Cupid’s Sweet
Inspirations for dessert. An à la carte menu will also be available at the bar.
Call 617.423.2700 for reservations and more information.
Harvest
Chef
Pooler extends the Valentine’s Day festivities at the Harvest
this year, offering his Be My Valentine Tasting Menu from Thursday, February
10th until Wednesday, February 16th. Highlights from the menu include Grafton
cheddar strudel with bacon, onion, chanterelle mushroom sauce; marrow crusted
beef tenderloin with beet-truffle rosti cake and sauce bordelaise; and Valrhona
chocolate mousse and espresso caramel from pastry chef Molly
Hanson. The three-course menu costs $55 per person with optional half glass
wine pairings for an additional $15 per person or full glass wine pairings for
an additional $25 per person. Call the Harvest at 617.868.2255 for reservations
and more information.
Julien
Celebrate Valentine’s Day in one of Boston’s most romantic dining rooms. Julien‘s
team of chefs, including Mark
Sapienza, Daniel
Kenny and John
Quinn will be whipping up a four-course menu that’ll make you swoon. Pianist
Jeffrey Moore will be on hand to entertain guests. Dinner costs $272 per couple.
Make reservations for seatings anytime between 5:30 and 10:30pm by calling 617.451.1900.
Le Soir
Chef
Allen celebrates Valentine’s Day on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Le
Soir with a five-course menu that will be offered in addition to their regular
menu. Courses include a Duxbury oyster with champagne mignonette; lobster and
avocado salad with mustard dressing; wild striped bass with pureed parsnip and
arugula sauce; coriander crusted steak with asparagus and pomme puree with port
reduction; and a chocolate tasting. The dinner costs $85 per person. Call Le
Soir at 617.965.3100 for reservations and more information.
Lumière
Celebrate
Valentine’s Day at Lumière
with a three course menu from chef Michael
Leviton. Choose among menu options like braised duck risotto with butternut
squash, Swiss chard and parmesan sage oil; braised leg of lamb with artichoke
pearl onion and carrot ragout with rosemary mustard jus; and dried apricot and
almond upside down cake with crème fraiche and sauternes sauce. Dinner
costs a mere $55 per person, so treat your sweetie. Call 617.244.9199 for reservations.
Meritage
Inspired
by love, chef Daniel
Bruce has created a special Valentine’s Day that highlights some of the
season’s romantic and playful ingredients. The five-course menu, which is paired
with all rose champagnes, includes dishes like caviar and champagne Belon oysters
with spiraled toast; mint roasted rack of lamb with leek and golden potato diamond;
and duet of dark chocolate “sweetheart” and cherry almond tart. The Valentine’s
Day menu will be offered Tuesday, February 8th through Saturday, February 19th
and costs $125 per person. Call Meritage
at 617.439.3995 to make reservations.
Rialto
Share
the love this Valentine’s Day by heading to Rialto
for a romantic dinner of love-inspired specials from chef Jody
Adams. Available from Friday, February 11th through Monday, February 14th,
specials include Maine crab tart with red pepper salad, pink tobiko and fried
Maine shrimp; truffled potato gnocchi with parmesan cream; Roasted lobster with
braised red cabbage, horseradish and beurre rouge; and seared Delmonico steak
with mushroom-marrow fricassee, red beets and red wine sauce. Enjoy chocolate
espresso fondue, served with Devil’s food cake, assorted cookies, toasted coconut
marshmallow hearts, and fruit, including strawberries and starfruit from pastry
chef Tal Shofman-Schejter‘s. Call Rialto at 617.661.5050 for reservations
and more information about their Valentine’s Day festivities.
Rustic Kitchen
Cupid
takes aim at Rustic
Kitchen this year, so bring your beloved to their Cambridge location for
a seductive, four-course menu from executive chef Bill
Bradley and chef de cuisine Mark
Usewicz. Courses include duck proscuitto with endive, pink salt and fruitti
di mostarda; balsamic glazed quail with pomegranate fennel and blood orange;
and rustic tiramisu with mascarpone, espresso and Marsala. Dinner costs $70
per person with an optional $30 wine pairing. Call the Cambridge location of
Rustic Kitchen at 617.354.7766 for reservations.
Sel de la Terre
Chef
Gardner invites guests to spend Valentine’s Day at Sel
de la Terre. He’s whipped up a five course prix fixe menu that includes
options like lobster and chickpea crepe with leek mushroom ragout; sautéed
John Dory with grilled polenta cake, charred scallion and tomato caper sauce;
molasses and pecan crusted rack of lamb with tomato fondue, fingerlings, roasted
haricots verts and olives; and sweet goat cheese pyramid cake with cassis coulis
and pistachio shortbread. Dinner costs $87 per person. Call Sel de la Terre
at 617.720.1300 for reservations and more information.
Spire
Take
your sweetie to Spire
on Valentine’s Day for a four-course tasting menu from chef Gabriel
Frasca. Enjoy a Nantucket Bay scallop blood Mary with Grey Goose vodka,
cucumber, ginger, horseradish and celery followed by the Menage a Foie, that’s
foie gras three ways. Or opt for the sour cherry-glazed rack of Colorado lamb
with tabbouleh, baby carrots mint and sheepsmilk yogurt. Wrap it all up with
a Valentine’s Day tasting for two, which includes chocolate covered strawberries,
cinnamon beignets, crème caramels and prune armangac ice cream. The dinner costs
$110 per person. Call Spire at 617.772.0202 for reservations.
Taranta
Treat
your sweetie to a four-course dinner at Taranta
this Valentine’s Day. Chef Jose
Duarte and Laura
Henry have created a menu that boasts selections like Wellfleet oysters
on the half shell with a prosecco and blood orange vinaigrette with spicy rocoto
pepper; lobster and crab ravioli with a lobster mascarpone herb sauce; and heart
shaped crispy shortbread with dulce de leche and lucuma ice cream. The specially
designed celebratory menu costs $70 per person, not including beverages tax
or gratuity. Call Taranta at 617.720.0052 for reservations and more information
or go to www.TarantaEvents.com
to book a table.
Turner Fisheries
Chef
Heinrich rolls out his Valentine’s Day Flirtation Menu on Friday, Saturday
and Monday, February 11th, 12th and 14th. The four-course menu costs $125 per
person and includes dishes like warm Yaquina Bay oysters with celeriac mousse
and smoky apple bacon froth; jonah crab salad on smoked salmon chevre panna
cotta, avocado, grapefruit and upland cress; seared ahi tuna and braised blade
steak with black currant pinot glace and aged cheddar artichoke grits; and crispy
fried cheesecake with mango sauce. Call Turner
Fisheries at 617.424.7425 for reservations.
UpStairs on the Square
With
their pink and gold harlequin walls, lavender banquettes and four blazing fireplaces,
on the Square seems tailor-made for Valentine’s Day. Whether you decide
to celebrate the holiday on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday in the Soiree
Room or the Monday Club Bar, chefs Amanda
Lydon and Susie
Regis have got you covered. Friday through Sunday, couples can dine a deux
with romantic prix fixe tasting menus for two for $85 per person in the Monday
Club Bar or $110 per person for five courses in the Soiree Room. On the day
itself, treat your sweetie to five courses in the Soiree Room for $125 per person
or $85 per person in the Monday Club Bar. Menu items include lobster salad for
two; roast lamb loin with bitter chocolate and braised endive; and hot chocolate
with armangac cream and orange madeleines. Call UpStairs on the Square at 617.864.1933
to make reservations.
